Cloth folding and stitching device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 26, 1963 K. R. LOFGREN CLOTH FOLDING AND STITCHING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1960 a. 2 l. WWW 5 March 26, 1963 K. R. LOFGREN 3,082,715

CLOTH FOLDING AND STITCHING DEVICE Filed March I5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,082,715 CLOTH FOLDING AND STITCHING DEVICE Karl R. Lofgren, Gastonia, N.C., assignor to Cooker Machine 8: Foundry Company, Gastonia, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Mar. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 15,171 2 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) This invention relates to automatic folding devices. More particularly, this invention relates to machinery for the continuous and automatic folding or folding and stitching of continuously running fabric and the like.

In the past, the efficient and economical preparation of lengths of folded cloth suitable for use as surgical dressings, or the like, has presented considerable difficulties by reason of the lack of suitable automatic machinery adapted to such production. As a consequence, folded cloth for surgical dressings, draperies, hems on shade cloth and a variety of similar items has heretofore generally been produced by a hand operation entailing a variety of successive individual steps, such as the cutting of the cloth initially into the proper lengths, folding the cloth, and whenever necessary or desirable stitching the folded cloth in a manner to retain the fold. Needless to say, the aforementioned cumbersome hand method of production is necessarily time consuming, costly and generally inefficient, particularly when an attempt is made to gear such production to the production schedules of related items produced by modern machine methods.

Accordingly, it is. an object of this invention to provide automatic cloth folding or folding and stitching apparatus whereby hand operation is entirely eliminated.

It is another object of this invention to provide automatic cloth folding or folding and stiching apparatus whereby a continuous length of folded and stitched cloth may be produced from a single and continuous roll of said cloth.

It is another object of this invention to provide a twostage cloth folding apparatus wherein said cloth may be run through said apparatus substantially in a straight line without appreciably altering the sidewise direction thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cloth folding or folding and stitching apparatus whereby a continuous length of folded and stitched cloth is produced from which individual lengths thereof may be produced as desired by a simple cutting operation.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a cloth folding and stitching apparatus as provided in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken as indicated by the lines and arrows IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken as indicated by the lines and arrows III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the flat segment of the cloth as it appears before entry in the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view of the cloth segment after one stage of its progress through the apparatus as provided in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the cloth segment after it has passed through subsequent stages of the apparatus.

The following description is directed to the specific form of the apparatus as shown in the drawings and is not intended to be addressed to the scope of the invention as exemplified by the drawings.

Adverting herewith to the specific form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a frame 10* comprising upper cross pieces 11 and 11a, lower cross piece 12 and uprights 13 and 14, is provided for the support of the operating elements of the cloth folding and sewing device as provided in accordance with this invention.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, an inlet scaifolding116 is bolted to the top of the upright 13 for the support of inlet guide rolls 17 and 18 journalled in the bearings 21 and 22, respectively. Secured to the upright 13 intermediate the top and bottom thereof is a selvage guide 23 supporting guide rolls 24 and 25. Another guide roll 26 having a shaft 27 journalled at the opposite ends there of in the cross pieces .11 and 11a is positioned below the guide rolls 24 and 25- and serves as a guide for the cloth C entering a folding frame 28 in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter.

Immediately forward of the folding frame 28 is a reel 31 having a shaft 32 journalled in a stand 33 affixed to the cross piece 11. Forward of the reel 3-1 is a second selvage guide 320 which supports the guide rolls 33a and 34 having shafts 35 and 36 journalled therein. A second stage folding frame 37 is positioned immediately forward of the selvage guide 32a and adjacent a second reel 38 forward of said rack, the shaft 41 of which is journalled in the stand 42. Mounted between the cross pieces :11 and 11a, forward of the reel 38, is a sewing machine 43 provided for the stitching of cloth C in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter.

At the extreme forward end of the frame 10 there is provided a lead-off roll 44 having a shaft 45 journalled in the stand 46 affixed to the cross piece 11 and a pressure roll 47 having a shaft 48 journalled in the plate 51, which is pivoted to the stand 46 by the pin 52. To the opposite end of the diamond-shaped plate 51 there is hinged a rod 53 to which there is mounted a spring 54 which may be compressed :by turning the nut 55 at the distal end of the rod 53. The compression force of the spring 54 normally urges the roll 47 toward the roll 44 thereby creating a pressure therebetween. Adjacent the forward end of the frame 10 there is positioned a scray or take-up 56 for the reception of folded and sewn cloth, as shown in FIG. 1.

Rearwardly of the frame 10, there is provided an extension of the cross piece 12 to form a rolling-off stand 58 having a supporting leg '59. Rollers 61. and 62 having shafts 63 and 64 supported in the stands 65 and 66, affixed to the rolling-off stand 58, are provided for the support of a cloth roll 67. Roller 62 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction by a drive chain 68' which encircles a sprocket 71 affixed to the roller 62 and also encircles a sprocket 72 driven by a motor M, mounted upon the cross piece 12. A second chain 73 links the rollers 61 and 62', whereby the roller 61 is also rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. A third chain 74 encircles another motor sprocket 75, passes around a sprocket 76 affixed to the reel 31 then around the sprocket 77 journalled in the cross piece 11, thence upward and around a sprocket wheel 78 aflixed to the reel 38, then downward and around another sprocket wheel 81 journalled in the cross piece 11, and from there the drive chain 74 passes again about the motor sprocket 75. Another chain 82 encircles a sprocket wheel 83' coaxially journalled with the sprocket 77 and passes also around another sprocket wheel 84, then upward around a sprocket 85 aflixed to the roll 44, thence the chain 82 passes under another sprocket 86 journalled in the cross piece 11 and finally returns to the sprocket 83.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the first stage folding frame 28 comprises a smooth surfaced horizontal bar 90 secured at the opposite ends thereof in the receptacles 91 and 91a affiXed, respectively, to the stands 92 and 92a, which are in turn mounted, respectively, on the cross pieces 11 and 11a. Extending at right angles to the horizontal bar 90 is another srnooth surfaced bar 93 which is supported in a generally vertical position by the support piece 94 extending horizontally from the upright 13. From approximately the center of the horizontal bar 90 another bar 95 extends vertically in the same plane as the bar 93 to forth an acute angle with the bar 90 on the side of the bar 95 opposite the bar 9 3. Another bar 96, similarly smooth surfaced extends from the top of the bar 95 to the bar 90, thereby completing a generally vertical triangular structure having an angle of 90 at the vertex formed by the bars 95 and 96. From the aforesaid vertex, there extends another horizontal bar 97 parallel to the bar 90 to join the top of the bar 93, thereby forming a vertically extending trapezoidal structure defined by the bars 95, 97, 93 and a central part of the bar 90.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the second stage folding rack 37 comprises a horizontally extending bar 100 having the opposite ends thereof supported in receptacles 101 and 101:: afiixed, respectively, to the stands 42 and 42a. Smooth surfaced bars 102 and 103 rise generally vertically from the horizontal bar 100 and meet at right angles at the tops thereof to form a triangular structure at the left side of the horizontal bar 100 as seen in FIG. 3. Another bar 104 rises vertically in the same plane as the bars 102 and 103 forming a right angle with the bar 100. Another horizontal bar 105 parallel to the bar 100 joins the apex of the triangular structure formed by bars 102 and 103 with the top of the bar 104 and extends to the top 106 of the vertical stand 42a on the right side of the frame 10 as viewed in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4, and 6 illustrate progressive stages of the cloth C as it passes through the folding and sewing device as provided in accordance with this invention. FIG. 4 shows cloth C as it appears when lll'll'OllCd from the roll 67, FIG. 5 illustrates the folded condition of the cloth after passing through the first stage folding rack 28, and FIG. 6 illustrates the folded and sewn condition of the cloth C after passing the second stage folding rack 37 and the sewing machine 43, all in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter.

Operation In accordance with this invention, cloth C is first unrolled from the bolt or roll 67 and threaded through the machine by passing it over the inlet guide rolls 17 and 18 positioned on the inlet scaffolding 16, thence it is brought downward past the selvage guide 23 and between the guide rolls 24 and 25. The selvage guide 23 controls the exact run of the edges of the cloth C. From there the cloth C is passed around the roll 26 and upward into the first stage folding frame 28. Within the frame 28 the cloth C is brought upward at a diagonal so that a portion of the left-hand side thereof passes over the bar 97 and hangs downward on the forward side of said bar so that the side L of the cloth C hangs parallel to the bar 93. A small portion of the cloth C at the right-hand side thereof is passed first around the bar 96 and then around the bar 95 so that the right side R of the cloth C is parallel to the bar 95- as it passes fnom the roll 26 to the bar 96 then parallel to the bar 90 as it passes from the bar 96 to the bar 95 and finally parallel to the bar 93 as it passes around the bar 95 and moves downward to round the reel 31. through the frame 28 a first fold F is formed in the cloth C. From the reel 31 the cloth C passes through the selvage guide 32 and between the guide roll-s 33 and 34 and thence to the second stage folding frame 37. The cloth is then passed upward and the right-hand side thereof is passed over the horizontal bar 105 so that the righthand edge which is now the closed edge of the fold F passes downward parallel to bar 104. The left-hand portion of the cloth C is passed around the bar 102 and then around the bar 103 so that the right edge R of the cloth hangs in its final stage through the frame prependicularly to the bar 104. As the cloth C passes through In the process of passing the rack 37, the left edge L thereof is first parallel to the bar 103, then after passing around the bar 102 the edge L is parallel to the bar 100 and finally after passing the bar 103 the edge L becomes parallel to the bar 104 and to the edge R. In the course of the passage of the cloth C through the frame 37, a second fold F is created therein. From the foregoing description, it will have become evident that the cloth C passes through each folding frame in such a manner that the warp ends oven the entire width of the fabric must travel an equal distance regardless of how far from the selvage the fold is made. It will be evident, also, that the cloth C after passing through the frames 28 and 37 is doubly folded so that the left edge L thereof overlaps the right edge R. After leaving the second stage folding frame 37, the cloth passes around the reel 38 and through the sewing machine 43 thence it passes between the rolls 47 and 44 to be finally deposited in the scray 56.

chanical and automatic folding and sewing operation may be accomplished after threading the cloth through the device in the manner aforedescribed by switching on the motor M which directly drives the sprocket wheels 72 and and consequently the drive chains 68 and 74 causing the counter-clockwise rotation of the roller 62 and also the roller 61 linked therewith by the chain 73. It will be apparent that the rotation of the rollers 61 and 62 is communicated to the roll 67 by frictional contact of the rollers 61 and 62 therewith, resulting in the clockwise rotation of the aforesaid roll 67. The drive chain 74 directly drives the reels 3 1 and 38 as well as the sprocket wheel 77 which communicates its rotation through the shaft thereof to the coaxially journalled sprocket 83. The drive chain 82 communicates the rotation of the sprocket 83 to the roll 44 which in turn causes the rotation of the roll 47 by frictional contact.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the cloth C in its progress through the folding and sewing device is continuously pulled forward by the reels 31, 38 and the pressure rolls 47 and 44.

As the cloth C passes through the machine it is automatically folded ion the right-hand side thereof as it passes through the first stage folding frame 28 and again automatically folded at the left-hand side thereof as it passes through the second stage folding frame 37. After being doubly folded in the manner described, so that the left edge thereof overlaps the right edge, the cloth passes through the sewing machine 43 so that the needle is aligned midway between the edges R and L and produces a continuous stitch line S thereat, thereby permanently securing the edges together and preserving the folds F and F as formed. After the cloth has been stitched it is pulled from the sewing machine through the pressure rolls 44 and 47 and allowed to accumulate in the scray 56 from which it can be removed for cutting in the lengths desired either by hand or by automatic machine.

Although this invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment incorporating stitching means for the cloth as folded in accordance with the apparatus hereinbefore described, it will be clear that the folding apparatus may suitably be used alone without such stitching means as the occasion or need may arise.

It will be readily apparent that it is an important advantage of this invention that the apparatus provided in accordance therewith affords a means of producing from a continuous roll of cloth, a folded and stitched length of said cloth entirely without resort to any hand operation.

It will be also evident that a further advantage resides in the facility with which lengths of folded and stitched cloth may be produced as desired by a simple subsequent cutting operation.

Still another important advantage of this invention lies in the manner in which a two-stage folding apparatus is provided which permits the fabric to run in a generally straight line therethrough without appreciably altering the direction thereof.

Although this invention has been disclosed with reference to specific forms and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that a great number of variations may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. For example, parts may be reversed, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically disclosed and certain features of the invention may be used independently of other features, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for folding continuously running cloth comprising a metal framework, means for continuously feeding said cloth into said apparatus from a roll supported by said framework, selvage guide means for directing the travel of said cloth, a folding frame displaced laterally from the normal path of travel of said cloth and arranged to receive said cloth slantwise from said guide means, said frame comprising a plurality of smooth cylindrical bars forming a generally trapezoidal structure encompassing a smaller triangular structure at one end thereof, said cloth being directed to pass around one angle and one rectilinear side of said trapezoidal structure, whereby the opposite edges of said cloth are directed to travel perpendicularly to each other, a portion of said cloth being subsequently directed around the inner leg of said triangular structure, whereby the edge thereof travels parallel to the opposite edge of said cloth, said cloth being directed by said frame through a total path such that the locus of points perpendicular to the selvage thereof travel an equal distance therethrough, a second selvage guide arranged to receive said cloth from said folding frame and to direct the travel of said cloth, a second folding frame displaced laterally from the normal path of travel of said cloth arranged to receive said cloth slantwise from said second selvage guide means, said second frame comprising a plurality of smooth cylindrical bars forming a generally trapezoidal structure encompassing a smaller triangular structure at one end thereof, said cloth being directed to pass around one angle and one rectilinear side of said trapezoidal structure and subsequently around the inner leg of said trapezoidal structure, said frame being arranged to turn an edge of said cloth and form a fold in the edge thereof opposite to that in which a fold was formed by said first folding frame by directing said cloth through a pass such that the locus of points perpendicular to the selvage thereof travel an equal distance through said frame, and means disposed adiacent said second folding frame for guiding said folded cloth out of said apparatus.

2. In an apparatus for folding and stitching continuously running cloth having a rolling off stand at one end thereof and a stitching machine at the opposite end thereof, the improved cloth folding apparatus which comprises a selvage guide and guide roll pair arranged for directing the path of travel of said cloth, a folding frame positioned forward of said guide rolls and displaced laterally from the normal path of travel of said cloth, said frame being arranged for the slantwise reception of cloth thereinto, said frame comprising a plurality of cylindrical bars forming a generally trapezoidal structure encompassing a smaller triangular structure at one end thereof, said frame being geometrically arranged to direct one edge of said cloth to travel successively perpendicular to and then parallel to the opposite edge thereof to turn the edge of said cloth and form a fold therein while directing said cloth through path such that the locus of points perpendicular to the selvage thereof travel an equal distance to said frame, a reel forward of said frame arranged to advance said cloth through said apparatus, a second selvage guide and guide roll pair positioned forward of said reel and arranged to direct the path of travel of said cloth, a second folding frame displaced laterally from the normal path of travel of said cloth and arranged to receive said material slantwise from said second mentioned guide roll pair, said second mentioned frame being comprised of a plurality of cylindrical bars forming a generally trapezoidal structure encompassing a smaller triangular structure at one end thereof, said frame being arranged to direct one edge of said cloth to travel successively perpendicularly to and then parallel to the opposite edge thereof whereby said second mentioned folding frame turns the opposite edge of said cloth and forms a second fold therein while directing said cloth through a path such that the locus of points perpendicular to the selvage thereof travel an equal distance to said frame, a second reel positioned forward of said second mentioned folding frame arranged to advance said cloth through said apparatus and to pass said cloth to the stitching apparatus thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,717,120 Richardson June 11, 1929 2,818,037 McNutt Dec. 31, 1957 2,900,934 Judelson Aug. 25, 1959 2,940,404 Damon June 14, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR FOLDING CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING CLOTH COMPRISING A METAL FRAMEWORK, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING SAID CLOTH INTO SAID APPARATUS FROM A ROLL SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAMEWORK, SELVAGE GUIDE MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE TRAVEL OF SAID CLOTH, A FOLDING FRAME DISPLACED LATERALLY FROM THE NORMAL PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CLOTH AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SAID CLOTH SLANTWISE FROM SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID FRAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SMOOTH CYLINDRICAL BARS FORMING A GENERALLY TRAPEZOIDAL STRUCTURE ENCOMPASSING A SMALLER TRIANGULAR STRUCTURE AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID CLOTH BEING DIRECTED TO PASS AROUND ONE ANGLE AND ONE RECTILINEAR SIDE OF SAID TRAPEZOIDAL STRUCTURE, WHEREBY THE OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID CLOTH ARE DIRECTED TO TRAVEL PERPENDICULARLY TO EACH OTHER, A PORTION OF SAID CLOTH BEING SUBSEQUENTLY DIRECTED AROUND THE INNER LEG OF SAID TRIANGULAR STRUCTURE, WHEREBY THE EDGE THEREOF TRAVELS PARALLEL TO THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID CLOTH, SAID CLOTH BEING DIRECTED BY SAID FRAME THROUGH A TOTAL PATH SUCH THAT THE LOCUS OF POINTS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SELVAGE THEREOF TRAVEL AN EQUAL DISTANCE THERETHROUGH, A SECOND SELVAGE GUIDE ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SAID CLOTH FROM SAID FOLDING FRAME AND TO DIRECT THE TRAVEL OF SAID CLOTH, A SECOND FOLDING FRAME DISPLACED LATERALLY FROM THE NORMAL PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CLOTH ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SAID CLOTH SLANTWISE FROM SAID SECOND SELVAGE GUIDE MEANS, SAID SECOND FRAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SMOOTH CYLINDRICAL BARS FORMING A GENERALLY TRAPEZOIDAL STRUCTURE ENCOMPASSING A SMALLER TRIANGULAR STRUCTURE AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID CLOTH BEING DIRECTED TO PASS AROUND ONE ANGLE AND ONE RECTILINEAR SIDE OF SAID TRAPEZOIDAL STRUCTURE AND SUBSEQUENTLY AROUND THE INNER LEG OF SAID TRAPEZOIDAL STRUCTURE, SAID FRAME BEING ARRANGED TO TURN AN EDGE OF SAID CLOTH AND FORM A FOLD IN THE EDGE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO THAT IN WHICH A FOLD WAS FORMED BY SAID FIRST FOLDING FRAME BY DIRECTING SAID CLOTH THROUGH A PASS SUCH THAT THE LOCUS OF POINTS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SELVAGE THEREOF TRAVEL AN EQUAL DISTANCE THROUGH SAID FRAME, AND MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SECOND FOLDING FRAME FOR GUIDING SAID FOLDED CLOTH OUT OF SAID APPARATUS. 